Washing-machine



(No Model) S P. LOWELL.

WASHING MACHINE.

' No. 481,183. Patented Aug. 23, 1892.

UVWENTUE fiizas ZLoweZ A TTOHNEYS UNITE Snares ATENT Enron.

SILAS P. LOWELL, OF EUGENE, OREGON.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,183, dated August23, 1892. Application filed January 13, 1892. Serial No. 417,991. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILAS P. LOWELL, of Eugene, in the county of Laneand State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Improvement inWVashing-lvIachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved washing-machine; and it consists in certainnovel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a vertical section,of my machine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the cover or lid removed,and Figs. l and 5 are detail views.

The body or suds-box A is made circular of wood or metal, preferably ofsheet metal. It has centrally of its bottom a bearing B for therevolving rubber and agitator and also has a removable cover or lidprovided centrally with a bearing 1) for the shaft of the rubber andagitator, the bearings B- 1) being in vertical alignment, as shown inFig. 2. On its inner side the bodyA has the upright ribs or flutes D,forming a rubbing surface. These ribs or flutes may be formedseparately, as shown, or be provided by properly fiuting or forming aplate, of metal, secured in the body, or, if desired, by flutin g theside of the body.

The rubber or agitator comprises a plate or disk E, having numerous.perforations and preferably made concave, dishing downward toward itscenter. This concave form is preferred, because it gives greaterstrength to the plate and serves to prevent its sagging with the weightof the clothing. At its edge the disk E has a rim or ring plate F, whichpreferably depends and serves as a support for the outer edge of thedisk, and also operates to prevent the clothing from getting under theouter edge of disk. At its center the disk is connected with the shaftG, which journals in the bearings B b and may be turned by the handle H.

On the disk is mounted upright tubes I, fitted at their lower ends overopenings in the disk, so that hot water and steam may pass up into thetubes, which are perforated at 'i for the passage of the said water andsteam onto the clothing. The upper ends of the tubes I may be closed byplugs or in other suitable manner, or'may be left open. The shape ofthese tubes is preferably conical, tapering toward their upper ends.Among the advantages of this special form of tube is that it enables theclothing, when wrapped around the tubes, to be lifted off by a stick,the tapered form of the tube causing the clothes to lift readily towardthe upper smaller end.

At the center of the disk or plate I provide a cylinder J, open at itsbottom and perforated at its sides to permit the hot water and steam topass out onto the clothing being washed. This cylinder or turret tendsto keep the clothes away from the center of the disk and holds them outin contact with the tubes, where the force of the water and steam isgreatest. The tubes, by moving through the clothing, form a middle orcentral rubbing, and by forcing the clothing against the side ribscauses a further rubbing of the same, as will be readily understood. Theconical or tapered forms of the tubes tend to raise the clothes insteadof pressing them down, so giving the lower clothes, as well as the upperones, an opportunity of being washed. The central cylinder or turret Jis braced in position by the bars or plates j, projecting from theshaft.

In practice it is preferred to make the tub and agitator of galvanizediron.

Having thus described my invention, what I- claim as new is 1. In awashing-machine, an agitator comprising a perforated disk or platedished or concaved on its upper side, provided at its edge with arim-flange, and the upright tubes on said disk or plate, such tubesbeing perforated, all substantially as set forth.

2. An improved agitator for washing-machines, comprising the plate ordisk, the cylinder or turret mounted centrally on said plate or disk, anumber of tubes on said disk, surrounding the central turret, said tubesbeing tapered toward their upper ends, whereby the clothes wrappedthereon may be readily lifted off and being hollow for the circulationof the water and steam, and the disk or plate having openingscommunicating with said tubes for the passage of Water and steam intothe latter, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a wasl1ing-machine, an agitator comprising a disk provided withopenings, hollow upright tubes secured on said disk over the saidopenings, whereby water and steam may pass into their lower ends, thesaid tubes being perforated for the exit of the steam, and the centralcylinder or turret perforated for the circulation of water and steam andadapted to keep the clothing from the center of the agitator,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4-. In a washing-niachine, substantially as described, the combinationof the suds-box or body and the agitator journaled t0 revolve therein,formed with a perforated base-plate, and perforated upright tubesthereon, said tubes being arranged off the center of the disk, wherebythey will move in a circular line as distinguished from being rotatedaxially when the disk is turned and being conical or tapered towardtheir upper ends, all substantially as set forth.

SILAS P. LOWELL. lVitnesses:

S. BURR, \V M. R. WALKER.

